New York & the Mid-Atlantic Trips 2 - Full PDF eBook

At milepost 74.7, the very easy,

0.1-mile Thunder Ridge trail

leads to a pretty valley view. The

tough 1.2-mile Apple Orchard

Falls trail leads can be accessed

at milepost 78.4.

6 Peaks Of Otter

The three Peaks of

Otter – Sharp Top, Flat

Top and Harkening

Hill – were once dubbed

the highest mountains

in North America by

Thomas Jefferson. He

was decidedly wrong in

that assessment, but the

TRIP HIGHLIGHT

peaks are undeniably

dramatic, dominating

the landscape for miles

around.

There’s a visitor center

at milepost 86; from

here you can take the

steep 1.5 mile Sharp Top

Trail, which summits the

eponymous mountain

(3875ft). The Flat Top

Trail goes higher and

further (4.4 miles), but

at a considerably less

demanding incline.

You’ll end at the Peaks

Picnic area (say that

three times fast). If

you’re pressed for time,

the 0.8-mile Elk Run

Trail is an easy self-

guided nature tour.

At milepost 83.1,

just before the visitor

center, the Fallingwater

Cascades Trail is a 1.5

mile loop that wanders

past deep-carved ravines

to a snowy-white

waterfall.

Although closed at the

time of research, this is

the location of the Peaks

of Otter Lodge.

The Drive » Get on VA-43

south, also known as Peaks Rd,

from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

It’s about an 11 mile drive along

this road to Bedford.

7 Bedford

Tiny Bedford suffered the

most casualties per capita

during WWII, and hence

was chosen to host the

National D-Day Memorial

(%540-586-3329; US 460

There are numerous private camping sites, and four public campgrounds (%877-

444-6777; http://www.recreation.gov; campsites $19; hMay-Oct) located at mileposts 60.8, 85.6,

120.4 and 161.1, on the Virginia side of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Campgrounds along the parkway are open from May to October, with a per-night

charge. Use the aforementioned reservations website to book these sites. Demand

is higher on weekends and holidays. While there are no electrical hookups at

parkway campsites, you will find restrooms, potable water and picnic tables. You’re

often at a pretty high elevation (over 2500-ft high), so even during summer you may

want to bring some extra layers, as it can get chilly up here.

You can also stay in two cabin-style accommodations options, although only

one was open during our research. Rocky Knob Cabins (%540-593-3503; http://www.

rockyknobcabins.com; 266 Mabry Mill Rd; cabin with shared bath $75; hMay-Oct; p#), in

the wonderfully named Meadows of Dan, are pretty rustic, but comfortable and cozy

as well. Each cabin comes with two full-sized beds, but bath facilities are shared.

Bring food, as eating options are limited along the parkway.

Peaks of Otter Lodge (%540-586-1081; http://www.peaksofotter.com; Mile 86, 85554

Blue Ridge Pkwy; r from $130; a), about 20 miles from Roanoke, is a pretty, split-rail-

surrounded lodge on a small lake nestled between two of its namesake mountains.

The lodge had recently been sold to new ownership at the time of research. There’s

a restaurant, but no public phones and no cellphone reception.

CAMPING & CABINS ALONG THE BLUE

RIDGE PARKWAY

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE:

VIRGINIA.TRIPS

25

(^) BLUE RIDGE P
ARKWAY